Series tapper assembly and method

ABSTRACT

First and second kegs, each having a keg adapter mounted in an opening in a wall of the keg. A tapper in operative engagement with each keg adapter. Each tapper and associated keg adapter providing an inlet passageway for the transfer of fluid from outside to inside the keg, and an outlet passageway for the transfer of fluid from inside to outside the keg. Each inlet passageway containing a valve yieldably biased toward the closed position to prevent flow from inside to outside the keg. Each outlet passageway containing a normally closed valve which is manually movable to the open position. A fluid pressure source is connected to the outer end of the inlet passageway of the first keg to cause the fluid in the first keg to flow through the outlet passageway. The outlet passageway of the first keg is connected with the inlet passageway of the second keg to transfer fluid from the first keg to the second keg. And, the outlet of the second keg is connected to a fluid dispensing faucet.

Unite States Johnston 1 Sept. 30, 1975 1 SERIES TAPPER ASSEMBLY ANDMETHOD [22] Filed: Sept. 10, 1973 [211 Appl. No.: 395,898

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.385,358, July 3, 1973, Pat. No. 3,836,053, which is acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 189281, Oct. 14. 1971, Pat. No. 3.758008.

[76] Inventor:

Johnston.. 222/4007 Johnston 222/4007 Prinmry E.\uminerRobert B. ReevesAssistant E.\'aminerDavid A. Scherbel Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wills,Green & Mueth ABSTRACT I First and second kegs, each having a kegadapter mounted in an opening in a wall of the keg. A tapper inoperative engagement with each keg adapter. Each tapper and associatedkeg adapter providing an inlet passageway for the transfer of fluid fromoutside to inside the keg, and an outlet passageway for the transfer offluid from inside to outside the keg. Each inlet passageway containing avalve yieldably biased toward the closed position to prevent flow frominside to outside the keg. Each outlet passageway containing a normallyclosed valve which is manually movable to the open position. A fluidpressure source is connected to the outer end of the inlet passageway ofthe first keg to cause the fluid in the first keg to flow through theoutlet passageway. The outlet passageway of the first keg is connectedwith the inlet passageway of the sec ond keg to transfer fluid from thefirst keg to the second keg. And, the outlet of the second keg isconnected to a fluid dispensing faucet.

13 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 3 Of?)3,908,861

A980: 040550 565R, F G 8 L SERIES TAPPER ASSEMBLY AND METHODCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 385,358, filed Aug. 3,1973, now Pat. No. 3,836,053, which is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 189,281, filed Oct. 14, 1971, now Pat. No.3,758,008. and discloses constructions which have a subject-matterrelationship with constructions disclosed in my copending applicationsSer. No. 222,910, filed Feb. 2, 1972, Ser. No. 378,856, filed July 13,1973, Ser. No. 389,836, filed Aug. 20, 1973, and Ser. No. 390,153, filedAugust 20, 1973.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relatesgenerally to the siphoning art and more particularly to a novel seriestapper assembly and method for interconnecting a plurality of beer kegsor the like in series for a large volume outlet, whereby all of saidkegs can be tapped in sequence at the same time and will be emptied oftheir contents in sequence during operation.

Although the series tapper assembly of the present invention can be usedwith containers which store and dispense various liquids, it isparticularly useful for the dispensing of draft beer from kegs, and willbe so described.

Although a series arrangement for beer kegs is in use at the presenttime, it has several major disadvantages, including the problems ofrequiring separate connections to the tops and bottoms of adjacent kegsduring installation and disassembly, and manually operable valvesbetween kegs which must be closed and opened each time two or more kegsare interconnected or disconnected. Another disadvantage of the systemin use at the present time, is that there is a tendency to dischargeonly a portion of the beer from each keg instead of emptying one keg ata time in sequence.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novelseries tapper assembly and method in which the inlet and outlet for eachkeg is contained in a single unit which can be operatively engaged withthe dispensing opening of various types of kegs such as the Golden Gate"and the Peerless. More particularly, it is an object to provide such anassembly in which the various components for the several kegs remaininterconnected with the gas source and with the faucet while bothinstalling and removing kegs relative to the series hook-up.

Another object is to provide such a series tapper assembly and methodwhich does not require manually operable valves between kegs. Moreparticularly, it is an object to provide such a system and method inwhich check valves are contained in the tapper units themselves and areautomaticallyl operated to prevent reverse flow of the beer betweenkegs.

A further object is to provide a novel series tapper assembly and methodin which the kegs are emptied in sequence, starting with the keg whichis adjacent to the source of gas pressure.

1 have discovered that the foregoing objects and advantages are achievedwith a plurality of kegs, including at least a first and second keg,each having an opening in one wall thereof. A keg adapter is positionedin each opening for sealing said keg and to provide means forselectively removing fluid from the keg. The tapper is removably engagedwith each keg adapter and includes an actuating member movable betweenan open position and a closed position. The keg adapter and tapper foreach keg provides therethrough an inlet passageway for transferringfluid from outside the keg to inside the keg, and an outlet passagewayfor transferring fluid from inside to outside the keg, each of saidpassageways having an outer end and an inner end. Valve means areprovided in each inlet passageway yieldably biased toward the closedposition to prevent fluid flow from inside to outside the keg and toprovide for fluid flow from outside to inside the keg. Normally closedvalve means are provided in each outlet passageway and movable to theopen position responsive to the movement of the actuating member fromthe closed to the open position. Each keg contains a siphon tube whichis in communication with the inner end of the inlet passageway. Theinner end of the outlet passageway for each keg is adjacent the openingin the keg wall. Conduit means interconnect the outer end of the outletpassageway of the first keg with the outer end of the inlet passagewayof the second keg. Conduit means also interconnect the outer end of theinlet passageway of the first keg with a fluid pressure source, andother conduit means interconnect the outer end of the outlet passagewayof the second keg with fluid dispensing means. Thus, when the fluiddispensing means is opened, the fluid pressure source forces fluid fromthe first keg into the second keg, and the fluid in the second keg isthereby forced through the conduit means to the fluid dispensing means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of three kegs, with one keg being shown incross-section, connected in series with series tapper assemblies andutilizing the method embodying the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view through one of the seriestappers as it appears in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view of a series tappersimilar to FIG. 2, but with the components in the open position as whenbeer and/or gas is flowing into and out of the keg;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in FIG. 2above the ends of the stationary magnets;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 inFIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the upper housing of the series tapper,illustrating the construction of the spiral slot used in connecting anddisconnecting the series tapper from the keg adapter, and opening andclosing the internal valves;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view through the primary tapper with thecomponents in the open position, similar to the positions shown in FIG.3 for the series tapper;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the primary tapper;

FIG. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the lines 10-10 in FIG.9, illustrating the location of the stationary magnets; and

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on the lines 1111 in FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As mentioned above, although theseries tapper assembly and method of the present invention can be usedwith containers for storing and dispensing various types of liquids, itis especially useful for the interconnection of a plurality of beer kegsin a large volume outlet, and will be so described. It is also to beunderstood that various types of gas pressure sources and dischargefaucets and spigots can be employed.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, andspecifically FIG. 1, the number indicates generally a series hook-up ofthree kegs 12, marked A, B and C, employing the method of the presentinvention and using two series tappers 14 constructed in accordance withthe teachings of the present invention, the third tapper 16 (used withkeg A), which is referred to for convenience as the primary tapper,being of the type shown and described in my copending application Ser.No. 385,358.

The assembly is used with a conventional source 18 of compressed air orcarbon dioxide gas and a conventional faucet or spigot 20.

Each tapper l4 and 16 is constructed and arranged to operatively engagea keg adapter 22 (FIG. 2) which is received in the dispensing opening 24in a wall 26 of each keg 12. There are two main types of beer kegs inuse at the present time, the Golden Gate keg which has a dispensingopening which is one and one half inches in diameter and a Peerless kegin which the dispensing opening is three-fourths of an inch in diameter.The keg shown in the drawings is a Golden Gate keg and the keg adapterused therewith is similar in construction and operation to the kegadapters shown and described in my copending application Ser. No.385,358 filed Aug. 3, 1973.

I have also invented a keg adapter for use with the Peerless keg andwhich also accommodates the same tapper 14, which keg adapter is shownand described in my copending application Ser. No. 390,153 filed Aug.20, 1973. I also invented keg adapters for mounting in the bunghole of akeg, and for washing, filling and dispensing through the same kegopening, whether it be in the end wall of a keg or the side wallthereof, which constructions are shown and described in Pat. No.3,753,445, and my copending applications Ser. No. 378,856 filed July I3,1973, and Ser. No. 389,836, filed Aug. 20, 1973.

Thus, it is to be understood that one of the advantages of the seriestapper 14 of the present invention is that it can be used with varioustypes of kegs having keg adapters of my simplified construction andwhich are mounted in the end wall or side wall of a keg.

Returning to the keg opening 24 and the keg adapter 22 received therein(FIGS. 2 and 8), the opening contains an inwardly extending bottomflange portion 30 which provides a ledge 32, and is surrounded by anupwardly extending flange portion 34 which contains internal threads 36.

The keg adapter 22 includes a generally cylindrical housing 38 with anoutwardly extending upper flange portion 40 which bears upon an 0-ring42 to support it on the aforementioned ledge 32.

The adapter is held in position by a retaining ring 44 which engages theupper face of the flange portion 40 and which contains an internalannular groove 46 with opposed slots (not shown).

The upper end of the adapter housing contains an annular groove having abottom wall 48 and an outer side wall provided with a shoulder 49.Extending downwardly from the bottom wall 48 and through the housing aretwo, diametrically opposed outer passageways 50, each having a valveseat 52 in the upper portion thereof. Positioned is each of the outerpassageways in a valve assembly which includes a valve member 54 forengagement with the valve seat 52, and a valve actuator 56 whichyieldably biases the valve member toward the closed position. Theactuator can be a coiled spring, but in my preferred construction itcomprises a movable magnet in association with stationary magnets, asdescribed in my copending application Ser. No. 385,358, filed Aug. 3,1973.

Thus, the valve actuator 56 comprises an elongated permanent magnet 57which may be enclosed within a smooth casing 59 which is in slidingengagement with the wall of the passageway 50. I have achieved excellentresults with both magnesium and plastic cases. The upper end of thecasing may be closed with a Teflon insert which holds the magnet firmlyin place.

Embedded in the housing on opposite sides of each gas passageway andspaced an equal distance therefrom are two elongated permanent magnets61 and 63 (FIGS. 10 and 11). The magnets 61 and 63 are generallyparallel with the gas passageways 50, and the upper ends thereof(FIG.1 1) are of the same polarity and are a short distance above theupper end of the movable magnet 57 when the gas valve is in the closedposition. The polarity of the upper end of the movable magnet 57 isopposite from the polarity of the upper ends of the stationary magnets61 and 63, whereby the upper ends of the movable magnets 57 areattracted to the upper ends of the stationary magnets 61 and 63.

I have discovered that with the aforementioned arrangement, there issufficient magnetic attraction between each movable magnet 57 and itsassociated stationary magnets 61 and 63 that the gas valves 54 aresecurely maintained in the closed position while the keg is beingshipped, but they are readily moved to the open position by gas pressureduring the dispensing operation.

Diametrically opposed ports 58 are provided in the upper portion of theadapter housing in communication with the outer passageways 50, wherebyliquid and/or gas can flow past the valve members 54 when they are inthe open position, and into the interior of the keg 12.

Projecting upwardly from the center of the adapter housing is a tubularbayonet portion 60 which includes an outer wall provided with anexternal groove containing an O-ring 62.

The center of the tubular bayonet portion 60 provides an innerpassageway 64 which contains a valve seat 66 adjacent the upper endthereof, the lower end of the passageway being in communication with asiphon tube 68 of conventional construction. As shown in FIG. 1, eachsiphon tube extends to adjacent the bottom wall of the keg 12 in whichit is mounted.

Slidably mounted within the inner passageway is a valve assembly whichincludes a valve member 70 and a valve actuator 72. The valve member 70is adapted to engage the valve seat 66 and the actuator yieldably biasesthe valve member toward the closed position. Here again, the actuatorcan be a coiled spring, but in my preferred construction it is a movablemagnet as described more fully in my copendingapplication Ser. No.385,358, filed Aug. 3, 1973.

Thus, the valve actuator 72 preferably includes a permanent magnet 73which is enclosed within a casing 75, the latter being provided withshort, radiallyextending flanges 77 (FIG. 9) adjacent the top and bottomends thereof, also for sliding engagement with the wall of the beerpassageway. A small Teflon plug may be inserted in the upper end of thecasing 75, primarily to maintain the magnet 73 in position within thecasing. As mentioned above, it is preferable to have the casing madefrom a light weight material.

Because the valve member 70 should be yieldably biased upwardly towardthe closed position, and the upper end of the valve actuator magnet 73is above the upper ends of the stationary magnets 61 and 63, the upperend of the movable magnet 73 is of the same polarity as the polarity ofthe upper ends of the stationary magnets 61 and 63, whereby the movablemagnet is repelled in the upward direction.

As will be discussed more fully hereinafter, the openings through theouter passageways and the other passageways associated therewith arelarger in size when considered together, than is the size of the openingin the inner passageway and the passageways associated therewith,whereby the volume of fluid flow into the keg can be greater than thevolume of fluid flow out of the keg.

Returning to a consideration of the series tapper 14 (FIGS. 2 and 3), itincludes an upper tapper housing 74 and a lower tapper housing 76interconnected for limited vertical relative movement therebetween.

The upper housing includes a longitudinally extending tap rod assemblypassageway 78 and an upper wall portion 80 which contains a spiralcamming slot 82 for a purpose to appear. The bottom portion of the upperhousing contains diametrically opposed recesses 84 which receive theupper ends of support bars 86 which are fastened in position with capscrews 88.

The support bars extend downwardly through vertically extending grooves90 (FIG. 4) contained in the lower housing and terminate at the bottomin hook portions 92 which are received in the annular groove 46 in theretainer ring 44. The center portion of each support bar adjacent to thelower tapper housing contains a slot 94 which slidably receives theouter end of the screw 96 which is fastened to the lower housing,whereby the lower housing has limited movement relative to the supportbars and the upper housing.

The bottom end of the lower tapper housing contains an external annulargroove which receives an 0-ring 98 which is adapted to seat on theshoulder 49 of the keg adapter.

The lower tapper housing has an upper end wall 99 and also contains alongitudinally extending tap rod assembly passageway with an upper innerwall surface 100 which has an annular recess 102 above it and anenlarged chamber 104 below it, said chamber having an inner wall surface106 which terminates in a shoulder 108 adjacent to an enlarged lowerpassageway 110 which has an inner wall 111.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a laterally extending passageway l 12 isprovided in the lower tapper housing in communication with the chamber104, and a tubular fitting 114 is fastened in the outer end of saidpassageway 112. As mentioned above the size of the passageway 112 forthe incoming fluid is greater than the size of the passageways for thefluid leaving the tapper.

Positioned in the passageway 78 in the upper tapper housing is a capmember 116 of the tap rod assembly which also includes a tubular tap rod118 which extends into the lower tapper housing.

The cap member includes an upper inverted cup-like part 120 whichincludes a chamber 122 and which is threaded onto the upper end of atubular fitting 124. A threaded opening 126 extends through the wall ofthe cup-like part in communication with the chamber 122, and received insaid opening is the inner end of a rigid tubular connector member 128which also extends through the spiral groove 82 so as to function as ahandle for actuating the tap rod assembly.

The tubular fitting 124 contains a longitudinally extending passageway130, the upper end of which is in communication with the chamber 122 andthe lower end is in communication with a plurality of laterallyextending ports 132. A bottom wall 134 at the lower end of the fittingcontains an opening 136.

Also threaded onto the tubular fitting 124 and depending therefrom is atubular member 138 which contains an upper chamber 140 and a lowerpassageway 142 of reduced diameter with a shoulder 144 therebetween,said passageway containing an inner wall surface 146. The lower end ofthe tubular member contains a bottom wall 148 and a tubular projection150.

Received in the lower passageway 142 in sliding engagement with the wallsurface 146 is the upper end of the tubular tap rod 118. The tap rod 118contains an upper stud portion 152 which extends through the opening 136and which has a machine screw 154 threaded h the top thereof, wherebythe tap rod 118 can be pulled upwardly by the tubular fitting.

At the base of the stud portion is a wall 156 which is adapted to becontacted by the bottom wall 134 of the tubular fitting when the lattermoves downwardly, for moving the tap rod in the downward direction.

An O-ring 158 is supported in an external groove adjacent the upper endof the tap rod and cooperates with the shoulder 144 adjacent thereto toprovide outlet valve means.

The tap rod 118 contains a longitudinally extending passageway 160 whichis in communication with a plurality of laterally extending passageways162 at the upper end, and which is in communication at the lower endwith an open chamber which has an end wall 164 and an inner sidewall166.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower end of the tap rod is constructedto slip over the bayonet portion of the keg adapter, with the 0-ring 62in sliding sealing engagement with the side wall 166, and acoil-supported prong 168 abuts the end wall 164 and is adapted to engageand open the valve member 70, as will be described more fullyhereinafter.

Returning to a consideration of the upper end of the tap rod 118, and0-ring 170 is received in an external annular groove below the laterallyextending passageways 162, and is in sliding sealing engagement with theinner wall surface 146.

Spaced downwardly from the 0-ring 170 is another externally mounted0-ring 172 which is in sliding sealing engagement with the wall 100 ofthe lower tapper housing 76. i

Adjacent the bottom of the tap rod is yet another externally mountedO-ring 174 which cooperates with the shoulder 108 adjacent thereto toprovide inlet valve means.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, the tapper 16 as shown in my copendingapplication Ser. No. 385,358, is used with keg A and has the gas inletfitting 170 thereof connected to the source 18 of gas pressure by a hose176, and the fluid outlet 172 thereof is connected by a hose 178 to thefitting 114 of the series tapper 14 installed in keg B.

The tapper 16 is somewhat similar in construction to the tappers 14 inthat it includes an upper tapper housing 74a and a lower tapper housing76a interconnected for limited relative vertical movement. The upper andlower tapper housings contain an interconnected tap rod assemblypassageway which slidably receives a tap rod assembly 118a whichsupports a coiled spring 168a at the lower end thereof for engagementwith the valve member 70.

The upper tapper housing 74a contains a like spiral camming slot 82awhich receives a handle 128a for moving the tap rod assembly 1 18abetween an open position and a closed position, as with the tappers 14.

The tubular connector 128 of the series adapter 14 of keg B is connectedby a hose 180 to the fitting 114 of the series tapper 14 installed inkeg C, and the tubular connector 128 of the series tapper of keg C isconnected by a hose 182 with the spigot 20.

It will be understood that one of the advantages of my series tapperassembly and method is that the aforementioned tappers, hoses, gaspressure source and faucet can remain interconnected at all times, i.e.prior to installation and tapping, during the dispensing operation, andafter the tappers have been disengaged from the spent kegs and prior totheir reuse with full kegs. Obviously, the units are usuallydisconnected for cleaning purposes.

In order to install two of the series tappers 14 and a regular tapper 16in three kegs, A, B and C as illustrated in FIG. 1, the preferred methodis to interconnect the aforementioned tappers with the gas pressuresource and spigot as previously described, and then engage the tapperswith their respective keg adapter units and actuate the tappers to tapthe kegs in the sequence of kegs C, B and A. Although it is necessary topartially rotate the tapper unit relative to the keg adapter whenengaging the tapper with the keg adapter, and to also move the rigidtubular connector member 128 approximately 180 during the tappingoperation, the hoses 178, 180 and 182 are of sufficient length to permitsuch maneuvering of the tappers and the connector members.

Thus, to engage the series tapper 14 with the keg adapter of keg C, thehook portions 92 of the support bars 86 are inserted through the slotsin the retaining ring 44 and the assembly partially rotated to lock thehook portions in the annular groove 46. At the same time, the bottomportion of the tubular tapper rod 1 18 is fitted over the bayonetportion 60 of the keg adapter, with the O-ring 62 in sealing engagementwith the inner wall surface 166. This relationship is shown in FIG. 2.

The tubular connector member 128 of the series tapper 4 associated withkeg C is then moved approximately 180 to the position shown in FIG. 3,causing the connector member to slide in the spiral groove 82, therebycausing the cap member 116 to move downwardly in the upper housing 74 tothe position shown in FIG. 3. As the cap member 116 moves downwardly,the shoulder 144 moves below the O-ring 158, thereby opening the outletvalve means and placing the passageway in the tapper rod incommunication with the chamber 140, the chamber 122 and the tubularconnector member 128.

Continued downward movement of the cap member 116 causes the studportion 152 to move upwardly through the opening 136 until the bottomwall 134 of the fitting 124 engages the top wall 156 of the tap rod.Continued downward movement of the cap member 116 causes the O-ring 174to move below the shoulder 108, thereby opening the inlet valve means tocause the passageway 1 12 and the chamber 104 to be in communicationwith the chamber and the outer passageways 50 in the keg adapter. Thisfurther downward movement of the tap rod 118 causes the prong 168 toengage the valve member 70 and open the inner passageway, therebyplacing the interior of the keg in communication with the interiorpassageway in the tap rod.

Also, as the cap member 116 is moved downwardly, the bottom wall 148 ofthe upper housing engages the top wall 99 of the lower housing, therebyforcing the lower housing 76 downwardly relative to the support bars 86and the retaining ring 44, thereby forcing the O-ring 98 into sealingengagement with the shoulder 49.

Thus, the interior of the keg is in communication with the faucet 20(which is closed) through the siphon tube 68, the passageway 64, pastthe open valve member 70, through the passageway in the tap rod, throughthe laterally extending passageways 162, into the chamber 156, throughthe passageways 132, into the chamber 122, and through the connectormember 128 and the hose 182 to the faucet 20. The residual pressure inthe keg C will normally cause the beer to flow through theaforementioned passageways and chambers to the faucet 20, but the faucetwould normally be closed.

The passageways between the tubular fitting 114 and the valve members 54will also be opened through the chamber 104, past the opened inlet valvemeans 108/174, into the chamber 110, and through the outer passageways50. However, because the valve members 54 are yieldably biased towardsthe closed position by the actuators 56, there is no reverse flow of thebeer through the hose 180.

The series tapper 14 of keg B would then be engaged and the connectormember 128 thereof moved approximately in the same manner as previouslydescribed, thereby connecting the interior of the keg B through itssiphon tube 68 with its connector member 128, whereby beer can flow fromkeg B through its siphon tube 68, tapper passageways, connector member128, and hose 180 to the tubular fitting 114 of the tapper for keg C. Ifthe fluid pressure in hose 180 is greater than the internal pressure inkeg C, such excess pressure in the outer passageways 50 in the kegadapter in keg C, causes the valve members 54 to move away from theirvalve seats 52 to the open position, whereby fluid can flow from keg Binto keg C.

The next step in the tapping sequence is to engage the tapper 16 withthe keg adapter in keg A, and actuate it in the manner described aboveand in my copending application Ser. No. 385,358, whereby the interiorof the keg A is placed in communication with the hose 178 and the gaspassageways in the keg adapter are placed in communication with the hose176.

Thus, if the source gas pressure 18 is opened and the gas pressure isgreater than the internal residual pressure in keg A, gas will flow intokeg A and cause the beer from keg A to flow through the hose 178 andinto keg B. However, if the faucet 20 is closed and all of the kegs arefilled with beer, the initial tapping operations will merely cause asmall amount of beer to flow in the connecting hoses 178, 180 and 182.

However, when the faucet 20 is turned to the open position, the gaspressure in keg A will cause beer to flow from keg A through the siphontube 68 therein, through the keg adapter and tapper associated with kegA, through the hose 178, through the tubular fitting 114 at keg B andthrough the interconnected passageways in the tapper and into the outerpassageways 50 in the keg adapter in keg B, thereby unseating the valvemembers 54 and causing additional beer to flow into keg B. The increasedpressure in keg B caused by the additional beer, causes beer to beforced out of keg B, through the hose 180 and into keg C in the samemanner as previously described, with the beer in keg C then being forcedthrough its siphon tube and into the hose 182 and to the faucet 20.

As previously described, it is important to have the passageways intothe keg through the fitting 114 and the tapper and the outer passageways50 of the keg adapter, larger in size than the outlet passageways fromthe keg, which include the inner passageway in the keg adapter and thevarious passageways between it and the.

connector member 128, whereby there will always be an excess flowcapability into the keg, as compared with the flow capability out of thekeg. This will always assure that the kegs are emptied in sequence,starting with the keg closest to the gas pressure source 18. Thus, in thpresent illustration, keg A would empty first, followed by keg B andthen keg C. Obviously, when all of the beer is discharged from keg A,the gas from the gas pressure source 18 merely flows through keg A andinto keg B in the conventional manner. Also, as keg B is emptied, thegas flows through kegs A and B and into keg C.

When it is desired to disconnect the kegs from the system, the gaspressure source 18 is turned off, and the tappers 14 are disengaged fromtheir respective kegs by moving the tubular connector 128 in the reversedirection, thereby moving the cap member 116 and the tap rod 118 in theupward direction, to close the outlet valve means 144/158 and the inletvalve means 108/174. Upward movement of the tap rod 118 also permits thevalve members 70 to move to the closed position due to the force of theactuator 72. Obviously, when the valve member 70 and valve members 54are in the closed position, the keg is sealed and the tapper can bedisengaged from the retaining ring 44 and removed from its associatedkeg adapter.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided a novel series tapperassembly and method which fulfills all of the objects and advantagessought therefor.

I claim:

1. A series tapper assembly, comprising in combination:

first and second kegs, each having an opening in one wall thereof;

a keg adapter in each opening for sealing said keg during nonuse and forproviding means for selectively removing fluid from the keg;

a tapper removably engaged with each keg adapter;

said tapper and keg adapter for each keg providing therethrough an inletpassageway for transferring fluid from outside the keg to inside thekeg, and an outlet passageway for transferring fluid from inside tooutside the keg, each of said passageways having an inner end and anouter end; valve means in each inlet passageway yieldably biased towardthe closed position to prevent fluid flow from inside to outside eachkeg;

normally closed valve means in each outlet passageway movable to an openposition; means for moving the valve means in each outlet passageway tothe open position;

a siphon tube in each keg in communication with the inner end of theoutlet passageway;

the inner end of the inlet passageway being adjacent the opening in thekeg wall;

conduit means interconnecting the outer end of the outlet passageway ofthe first keg with the outer end of the inlet passageway of the secondkeg;

conduit means for interconnecting the outer end of the inlet passagewayof the first keg with a fluid pressure source; and

, conduit means for interconnecting the outer end of the outletpassageway of the second keg with fluid dispensing means.

2. A series tapper assembly according to claim 1, in which the inletpassageway for each keg is larger in size than the outlet passageway forsaid keg, whereby the fluid flow capacity into the keg is greater thanthe fluid flow capacity out of the keg.

3. A series tapper assembly according to claim 1, in which the valvemeans in each inlet passageway is movable to theopen position when thefluid pressure at the outer end of the passageway exceeds by apredetermined amount the fluid pressure in the keg with which it is incommunication.

4. A series tapper assembly according to claim 1, in which an actuatingmember is mounted on each tapper and movable between an open positionand a closed position, and the valve means in the outlet passageway ismovable to the open position responsive to the movement of the actuatingmember from the closed position to the open position.

5. A series tapper assembly according to claim 4, in which each tapperis forced into sealing relationship with its associated keg adapterresponsive to the movement of the actuating member for said tapper fromthe closed to the open position.

6. The method of tapping a plurality of beer kegs interconnected inseries between a gas pressure source and fluid dispensing means, eachkeg having an opening in one wall thereof; a keg adapter in each openingand a tapper in operative engagement with each keg adapter; said tapperand keg adapter for each keg providing therethrough an inlet passagewayfor transferring fluid from outside the keg to inside the keg, and anoutlet passageway for transferring fluid from inside to outside the keg,each of said passageways having an inner end and an outer end; valvemeans in each inlet passageway yieldably biased toward the closedposition to prevent fluid flow from inside to outside the keg; normallyclosed valve means in each outlet passageway movable to an openposition; and actuating member carried by each tapper and movablebetween an open position and a closed position; means associated witheach tapper and responsive to the movement of the actuating means fromthe closed to the open position to move the valve in the outletpassageway to the open position; conduit means interconnecting the gaspressure source with the outer end of the inlet passageway of the kegadjacent said source; conduit means interconnect ing the fluiddispensing means with the outer end of the outlet passage of the kegadjacent said dispensing means; and conduit means interconnecting theouter end of the outlet passage of one keg with the outer end of theinlet passage of the keg adjacent thereto; including the steps of:

closing the fluid dispensing means;

with the actuating member for each tapper in the closed position, movingeach actuating member from the closed position to the open position, insequence, starting with the keg adjacent to the fluid dispensing means.

7. The method of tapping a plurality of beer kegs interconnected inseries according to claim 6, in which the gas pressure source remainsclosed until the actuating member of the keg adjacent thereto is movedfrom the closed to the open position after which, the gas pressuresource is opened to cause gas under pressure to enter the inletpassageway of said adjacent keg.

8. The method of tapping a plurality of beer kegs interconnected inseries according to claim 6, in which the gas pressure source is openedprior to moving any of the actuating members from the closed to the openposition.

9. The method of tapping a plurality of beer kegs interconnected inseries according to claim 6, in which the tappers are interconnectedwith the gas pressure source and the fluid dispensing means prior toengaging the tappers with the keg adapters.

10. A series tapper for interconnection with an adapter which is mountedin an opening contained in the wall of a keg, comprising:

a housing containing a longitudinally extending passageway providing aninner wall;

a tap rod assembly mounted in said passageway for limited longitudinalmovement and including a cap member and a tap rod;

an outlet chamber in the cap member;

a spiral slot in the upper end of the housing;

a tubular actuating member extending through said slot and intoengagement with said cap member, the interior of said actuating memberbeing in communication with the outlet chamber, said actuating memberbeing movable in said slot between an open position and a closedposition;

a longitudinally extending passageway in the tap rod;

outlet valve means between the upper end of the tap rod passageway andthe outlet chamber, movable between an open position and a closedposition responsive to the movement of the actuating member;

an inlet chamber between the inner wall of the housing and the tap rod;

an inlet passageway adjacent the lower end of the tap rod between saidtap rod and the inner wall of the housing; and

inlet valve means between the inlet passageway and the inlet chamber,movable between an open position and a closed position responsive to themovement of the actuating member.

11. A series tapper according to claim 10, in which the upper end of thetap rod is received in the cap member and has limited movement relativethereto.

12. A series tapper according to claim 10, in which the outlet valvemeans comprises a shoulder on one of the cap member and the tap rod andan O-ring on the other of the cap member and the tap rod.

13. A series tapper according to claim 10, in which the inlet valvemeans comprises a shoulder on one of the tap rod and the housing and anO-ring on the other of the tap rod and the housing.

1. A series tapper assembly, comprising in combination: first and secondkegs, each having an opening in one wall thereof; a keg adapter in eachopening for sealing said keg during nonuse and for providing means forselectively removing fluid from the keg; a tapper removably engaged witheach keg adapter; said tapper and keg adapter for each keg providingtherethrough an inlet passageway for transferring fluid from outside thekeg to inside the keg, and an outlet passageway for transferring fluidfrom inside to outside the keg, each of said passageways having an innerend and an outer end; valve means in each inlet passageway yieldablybiased toward the closed position to prevent fluid flow from inside tooutside each keg; normally closed valve means in each outlet passagewaymovable to an open position; means for moving the valve means in eachoutlet passageway to the open position; a siphon tube in each keg incommunication with the inner end of the outlet passageway; the inner endof the inlet passageway being adjacent the opening in the keg wall;conduit means interconnecting the outer end of the outlet passageway ofthe first keg with the outer end of the inlet passageway of the secondkeg; conduit means for interconnecting the outer end of the inletpassageway of the first keg with a fluid pressure source; and conduitmeans for interconnecting the outer end of the outlet passageway of thesecond keg with fluid dispensing means.
 2. A series tapper assemblyaccording to claim 1, in which the inlet passageway for each keg islarger in size than the outlet passageway for said keg, whereby thefluid flow capacity into the keg is greater than the fluid flow capacityout of the keg.
 3. A series tapper assembly according to claim 1, inwhich the valve means in each inlet passageway is movable to the openposition when the fluid pressure at the outer end of the passagewayexceeds by a predetermined amount the fluid pressure in the keg withwhich it is in communication.
 4. A series tapper assembly according toclaim 1, in which an actuating member is mounted on each tapper andmovable between an open position and a closed position, and the valvemeans in the outlet passageway is movable to the open positionresponsive to the movement of the actuating member from the closedposition to the open position.
 5. A series tapper assembly according toclaim 4, in which each tapper is forced into sealing relationship withits associated keg adapter responsive to the movement of the actuatingmember for said tapper from the closed to the open position.
 6. Themethod of tapping a plurality of beer kegs interconnected in seriesbetween a gas pressure source and fluid dispensing means, each keghaving an opening in one wall thereof; a keg adapter in each opening anda tapper in operative engagement with each keg adapter; said tapper andkeg adapter for each keg providing therethrough an inlet passageway fortransferring fluid from outside the keg to inside the keg, and an outletpassageway for transferring fluid from inside to outside the keg, eachof said passageways having an inner end and an outer end; valve means ineach inlet passageway yieldably biased toward the closed position toprevent fluid flow from inside to outside the keg; normally closed valvemeans in each outlet passageway movable to an open position; andactuating member carried by each tapper and movable between an openposition and a closed position; means associated with each tapper andresponsive to the movement of the actuating means from the closed to theopen position to move the valve in the outlet passageway to the openposition; conduit means interconnecting the gas pressure source with theouter end of the inlet passageway of the keg adjacent said source;conduit means interconnecting the fluid dispensing means with the outerend of the outlet passage of the keg adjacent said dispensing means; andconduit means interconnecting the outer end of the outlet passage of onekeg with the outer end of the inlet passage of the keg adjacent thereto;including the steps of: closing the fluid dispensing means; with theactuating member for each tapper in the closed position, moving eachactuating member from the closed position to the open position, insequence, starting with the keg adjacent to the fluid dispensing means.7. The method of tapping a plurality of beer kegs interconnected inseries according to claim 6, in which the gas pressure source remainsclosed until the actuating member of the keg adjacent thereto is movedfrom the closed to the open position after which, the gas pressuresource is opened to cause gas under pressure to enter the inletpassageway of said adjacent keg.
 8. The method of tapping a plurality ofbeer kegs interconnected in series according to claim 6, in which thegas pressure source is opened prior to moving any of the actuatingmembers from the closed to the open position.
 9. The method of tapping aplurality of beer kegs interconnected in series according to claim 6, inwhich the tappers are interconnected with the gas pressure source andthe fluid dispensing means prior to engaging the tappers with the kegadapters.
 10. A series tapper for interconnection with an adapter whichis mounted in an opening contained in the wall of a keg, comprising: ahousing containing a longitudinally extending passageway providing aninner wall; a tap rod assembly mounted in said passageway for limitedlongitudinal movement and including a cap member and a tap rod; anoutlet chamber in the cap member; a spiral slot in the upper end of thehousing; a tubular actuating member extending through said slot and intoengagement with said cap member, the interior of said actuating memberbeing in communication with the outlet chamber, said actuating memberbeing movable in said slot between an open position and a closedposition; a longitudinally extending passageway in the tap rod; outletvalve means between the upper end of the tap rod passageway and theoutlet chamber, movable between an open position and a closed positionresponsive to the movement of the actuating member; an inlet chamberbetween the inner wall of the housing and the tap rod; an inletpassageway adjacent the lower end of the tap rod between said tap rodand the inner wall of the housing; and inlet valve means between theinlet passageway and the inlet chamber, movable between an open positionand a closed position responsive to the movement of the actuatingmember.
 11. A series tapper according to claim 10, in which the upperend of the tap rod is received in the cap member and has limitedmovement relative thereto.
 12. A series tapper according to claim 10, inwhich the outlet valve means comprises a shoulder on one of the capmember and the tap rod and an 0-ring on the other of the cap member andthe tap rod.
 13. A series tapper according to claim 10, in which theinlet valve means comprises a shoulder on one of the tap rod and thehousing and an 0-ring on the other of the tap rod and the housing.